The Irish standard., 1887-02-05

u IA1 u
rupted by renewed passion of conyui
sive laughter from the woman
ssThe night and the coming storm
bring on my ague fit. You must no
mind it. I suppose you are astonishet
at my acquaintance with your affairs
but I was an old neighbor, and dea
friend of your daughters: but marriag'
sewers fonder ties than ours. We ar,
but poor friends now"
The old man hesitated one momen
before he asked doubtingly, ssWere yor
at all in her confidence, then?'
Goa little. She was taken with {
young man-so she was-at the same
time"
"a villain! low ruf1ian!' said thu
Palantine, clenching his fist, ant
using passionate gesture.
ssNever trner word you said in yo11
life-so much I can tell you-and more
than that may be-"
"My Sarah,'' the old man continued
in tremulous hesitatlon-;'wa always
good and dutiful child. and
ssDon't be so sure O that. Heaven
bless your soul and body, [ knew hel
better than you did a great deal-a
great deal
'sShe knew my wishes with respect
to that young villain, and I'm sure she
obeyed them
care you, indeed? And why should
you know? Had she no will Of her
own, do you think?'' the woman said
with a rapid and angry petulance OF
tone, like that which sometimes pre-
cedes an access OF delirium in sickness
- "Was she only to be q little bit Of
q puppet in your hands, to pull her
this way and that, and lock her up, OF
let her dance, just as you liked? Eth!
Sarah, do this-sarah, do that. And
Sarah was to do it all! She was no
such fool, she thanks you-''
t:You do not mean--''
.'Or if she did--was she to be the
only saint upon earth? Others dis
obeyed their parellts-and was she to
be the only good little slave in the
world-Oh, no Because she was your
daughter, L suppose, she was TO be as
white as the SNOW! Pride, my dea,
sir~--pride made the angels fall. Think
more hulnbly OF your own, I had a
father as we'll as she-aye, q good.
kind f;atler-and I disobeyed him. I
LETT him in bis age-;snd destroyed his
quiet-and knew WAS doing it when
did it, and 1 did it for al that. But
don't be frightened" she added hastily,
observing the paleness OF Il sudden
alarm whitening OH the brow Of the
old man--~s:5he was less guilty than L.
She was not such an abandoned. un-
happy wretch rs I am. Few are, in
deed" she added. mournfu]ly, tapping
with her feet on the floor, like one in
pain.
II have been 50 long ahsent,'' said
the Palatine-'' THAT / have forgotten
many things which perhaps some per-
sons will say / ought to remember.
You say you are an OLD neighbor, yet I
cannot, by any e1ertion recall your per-
son or your name to my recollection.
''Can you remember q family Of the
name of Sparl1ng, who lived within
few perches Of the high road, near your
yillage?''
''Phil sparljng? I do, very we'll.
His wife died in giving birth to an only
"That7s it, iust!' said the woman,
laying her hand quickly on his arm
81 III that daughter-that's just it, now.
L am, indeed. I'm that girl. !"
t'ADd your father-''
'sIisten-~a and TIL tell you everything.
When Mark--no-no--wh your daugh-
ter's sweetheart, Dinny, [ think she
called him, used TO be coming about the
the cottage, Mark Spellacy here my hus
band used to be along with him, and
while Sarah took his arm, aud walked
with him in the moonlight, J. walked
with Mark-leaying my old father that
loved me, lonely in his house. Mark
was poor and wanted money-and when
we had agreed to go off together, un-
known to the old man, [ robbed him
and gave it to Mark-so J. did I did,
indeed. And [ left my old father with
out so much as one-just one word for
ali his love, in tie dead of night-and
no one to care for hin-without SO much |
As this or 'that'-or by your leave,
God be with you for your
zindness.' Not a word indeed-no more
than it he was stone-or [. And I |
robbing him, too. think O that! Did
you ever hear o. such a lady? Did you
o0W2 O nv heart! NV hrainl Oh |